Predators' Justus Annunen: Needed in relief Monday
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Annunen turned aside five of six shots after replacing Juuse Saros to begin the third period of Monday's 6-3 loss to the Rangers.
Annunen didn't even see the puck that got past him -- the netminder knocked it into the net himself with his skate while crossing the crease to cover the near post as Artemi Panarin buzzed around behind the net. It's Annunen's first relief appearance of the season after four rough starts, and Nashville's No. 2 goalie isn't making a case for more playing time -- he has a record of 0-3-1 as well as a 3.98 GAA and an .840 save percentage.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Fades late against Dallas
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Annunen stopped 17 shots in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Stars.
The Predators took a 3-2 lead into the third period, but Annunen gave up three goals on only six shots in the final frame, although there wasn't much he could do on any of them. The 25-year-old netminder remains winless on the season, going 0-3-1 with a 3.81 GAA and an .850 save percentage in four starts as Juuse Saros' backup.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: In net Saturday
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Annunen will protect the home net against Dallas on Saturday, according to Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Annunen stopped 21 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. He has posted a record of 0-2-1 this season while allowing 11 goals on 78 shots. Dallas sits 22nd in the league with 2.86 goals per game in the 2025-26 campaign.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Takes unique overtime loss
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Annunen gave up three goals on 24 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Wild.
The Predators were fortunate to force overtime, with Steven Stamkos scoring in the final second of regulation. The officials and NHL situation room determined that Annunen dislodged the net when Marcus Johansson had an imminent scoring chance, resulting in an awarded goal at 3:38 of overtime. It's one of the more unique ways to lose a game, and Annunen dropped to 0-2-1 on the year because of it. He's allowed 11 goals on 79 shots across his three starts this season. Expect Juuse Saros to be back between the pipes for Thursday's home game against the Flyers.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Starting at home Sunday
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Annunen will defend the home goal against the Stars on Sunday, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Annunen will draw the start in the second half of a back-to-back after Juuse Saros was in net for Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over the Kings. The 25-year-old Annunen surrendered five goals on 26 shots in a loss during his lone appearance versus the Maple Leafs on Oct. 14. The Stars snapped a four-game losing streak in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Hurricanes, and they're tied for 16th in the NHL with 3.00 goals per game to start the year.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Leaves ice first Tuesday
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Annunen was the first goalie to exit the ice ahead of Tuesday's road clash with the Maple Leafs, Mark Masters of TSN reports, indicating he'll be in goal.
Annunen will make his 2025-26 debut after watching Juuse Saros feature in the first three games of the year. Last season, the 25-year-old backstop made 23 appearances for the Predators in which he posted a 9-11-1 record to go with a 3.17 GAA. Looking ahead to the rest of the campaign, Annunen figures to see around 20-25 starts behind Saros.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Loses to Golden Knights
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Annunen stopped 24 of 28 shots in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Golden Knights. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
Annunen has allowed 15 goals across his last three outings, going 1-2-0 in that span. The 25-year-old has been splitting the crease with Juuse Saros lately since the Predators have nothing to play for but pride in a terrible 2024-25 campaign. Annunen is 15-15-1 with a 3.18 GAA and an .883 save percentage over 34 outings between Nashville and Colorado this season. If the workload pattern continues, Saros could face Utah on Monday, and Annunen may draw a tough matchup against the Stars on Wednesday in the Predators' regular-season finale.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Back in net Saturday
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Annunen will start Saturday's road matchup against the Golden Knights, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.
Annunen is coming off a 16-save effort in Tuesday's 7-6 overtime win over the Islanders. The 25-year-old netminder is 9-10-1 with a 3.12 GAA and an .889 save percentage across 22 appearances since joining the Predators from the Avalanche earlier this year.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Starting versus Stars
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Annunen will guard the road goal versus the Stars on Thursday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Juuse Saros was awful versus the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, and Annunen played the third period, allowing a goal on 11 shots. The 25-year-old will now play for a fourth straight game as he looks to shake off an 0-4-1 skid over his last six outings. Annunen is not a strong fantasy play, as the Stars have won six in a row entering Thursday.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Plays third period in loss
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Annunen stopped 10 of 11 shots in relief of Juuse Saros in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Blue Jackets.
Annunen was tagged in for the third period after Saros allowed three goals over the final eight minutes in the middle frame, turning a close game into a blowout. The 25-year-old Annunen gave up the third goal of Kirill Marchenko's hat trick, but that was the only blemish on his performance. Annunen remains at 14-13-1 with a 2.98 GAA and an .891 save percentage over 31 outings this season between the Predators and the Avalanche. Saros has struggled throughout the campaign, so Annunen may see a bit more action down the stretch since the team has nothing but draft position to play for. Both Nashville goalies are best avoided for Thursday's road game in Dallas.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Gets little help in Philly
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Annunen made 16 saves in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Flyers.
Nashville outshot Philly 29-18 on the night, but Annunen had little chance on either puck that got past him, while the Preds' offense had trouble solving Ivan Fedotov in the other crease. Annunen hasn't picked up a win since March 8, going 0-4-1 over his last five starts despite a sharp 2.24 GAA and .907 save percentage, as Nashville's skaters backed him with only four goals combined over that span.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Starting in Philadelphia
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Annunen will tend the road twine Monday versus the Flyers, according to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.
Annunen hasn't fared well through six appearances in March, posting a 1-4-1 record, .902 save percentage and 2.51 GAA. The Finnish netminder will look to snap his four-game losing streak against a Flyers squad that is 2-0-0 and has netted 13 goals since parting ways with former head coach John Tortorella. Annunen is 2-0-0 with a 3.52 GAA and an .879 save percentage over two career appearances against Philadelphia.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Fourth straight loss
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Annunen made 26 saves in a 3-1 loss to the Golden Knights on Saturday. The third goal was an empty-netter.
Annunen kept his team in contention, but Nashville's skaters couldn't muster much offensively against a solid Vegas defensive structure. He's 0-3-1 in his past four starts, and his last win came March 8 against Chicago. Annunen could be in line for more starts now that the Preds have been eliminated from playoff contention, but he's a risk, given the team in front of him.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Facing Golden Knights
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Annunen will patrol the home crease against Vegas on Saturday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Annunen has lost his last two outings, surrendering six goals on 51 shots. He has posted a record of 8-7-1 with a 2.96 GAA and an .898 save percentage in 17 appearances with Nashville this season. Vegas sits fourth in the league with 3.42 goals per game and earned a 5-3 win over Chicago on Friday.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Allows three goals Sunday
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Annunen made 14 of 17 saves in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Blues. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
After a rocky first period where Annunen allowed two goals, he then tended one and a half clean frames before he surrendered St. Louis' third goal of the game to Justin Faulk. The 25-year-old Annunen has a 14-11-1 record with a 3.05 GAA and an .890 save percentage in 28 appearances this season. Annunen has struggled as of late with just one win in his last six starts. While his wins have been less frequent since joining the Predators after a trade away from Colorado, the young netminder has improved his save percentage and GAA in his 17 appearances with Nashville. However, it is best to fade Annunen in fantasy until next season while Nashville's struggles persist.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Makes 31 saves in loss Thursday
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Annunen stopped 31 of 34 shots in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Ducks. The fourth goal was an empty-netter in the final seconds of the third period.
Annunen is 1-2-1 across his last four starts, but he's registered a decent .907 save percentage and a 2.47 GAA during that stretch. The 25-year-old has appeared in 16 games for Nashville since being acquired from Colorado earlier this season, posting an 8-6-1 record with a 2.95 GAA and a .901 save percentage in that span.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Between pipes against Ducks
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Annunen will tend the twine at home versus Anaheim on Thursday, Emma Lingan of The Hockey News reports.
Annunen has played in just five games over the Predators' last 14 contests, posting a 2-2-1 record, 3.14 GAA and .885 save percentage. If the young backstop can put together a strong performance, he should be capable of pushing Juuse Saros for more opportunities.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Expected to start Saturday
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Annunen is set to start on the road against the Kings on Saturday, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Annunen stopped 17 of 19 shots en route to a 3-2 overtime victory over Chicago in his previous start last Saturday. He's 14-9-0 with a 3.15 GAA and an .888 save percentage in 25 appearances between Colorado and Nashville in 2024-25. Los Angeles ranks 18th in goals per game with 2.86.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: In goal Friday
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Annunen will protect the road goal versus the Sabres on Friday, Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean reports.
Annunen gets the start in the first half of a back-to-back because Juuse Saros (illness) is unavailable. Matt Murray was recalled from AHL Milwaukee to back up for Friday's game. Annunen earned the win in his last outing but allowed five goals on 35 shots versus the Sharks on Jan. 23.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Drawing tough start
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Annunen will protect the home goal versus the Golden Knights on Tuesday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Annunen has won three of his last five outings, allowing 10 goals on 143 shots (.930 save percentage) in that span. He'll draw a tough assignment as the Golden Knights have won four of their last six games with 17 goals scored over that stretch.
